Poinsettia plant `586`

ABSTRACT

Poinsettia `586` is a new cultivar of the &#34;curly&#34; flower type, distinguished by red flower bracts, unique flower bract formation and presentation, dark green foliage and self-branching characteristics. The new plant produces a very desirable branched flowering pot plant. The post-production foliage and bract retention is excellent even under low light intensities in the consumer&#39;s home.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

This new Poinsettia cultivar, `586,` originated as an inducedself-branching sport of a seedling known as `H-45` (proprietary) in mygreenhouse in Encinitas, Calif. It was selected because of its unusualflower bract formation and bract presentation, red flower bracts, darkgreen foliage and self branching characteristics; traits whichdistinguish it from other poinsettia cultivars, and seem to make it adesirable plant for commercial greenhouse production. After selection,`586` was vegetatively reproduced from stem cuttings for test purposesin Encinitas, Calif. By subjecting clones of this plant to successivegenerations of vegetative propagation, it was demonstrated that thedistinctive characteristics of `586` held true from generation togeneration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

Poinsettia `586` is illustrated in the accompanying color photographs.

The upper photo is a side view of 3 single stem plants per pot in fullflower. Evidence of self-branching can be seen in the flowering axillarybranches beneath the upper canopy of bracts.

The lower photo is a top view of the same plants showing flower andbract formation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of this new poinsettia asobserved in Encinitas, Calif., U.S.A. during December 1992. Observationswere recorded from flowering plants, grown as 3 single stem plants perpot. The pot was 14 cm in diameter and 11 cm in height. Colordesignations are compared to the 1986 edition of R.H.S. Colour Chart,first published in 1966 by The Royal Horticultural Society, London,England.

This new plant of the "curly" flower type is distinctly different thanthe poinsettia named `Red Curly` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,952) in thefollowing respects. Poinsettia `586` is self branching; `Red Curly` haslittle tendency to branch. The stem stiffness of this invention issignificantly improved over `Red Curly.`

THE PLANT

Origin: Sport of a non-patented and undistributed seedling known as`H-45.` The sport was induced by application of the procedures set forthin U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,276 to the seedling plant, herein incorporated byreference. The rootstock used to create `568` was Dark Red Hegg (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 3,160).

Classification:

Botanic.--Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.

Common name.--Poinsettia.

Cultivar name.--`586`.

Form: Shrub.

Height: Medium.

Growth habit: As a single stemmed plant, upright and vigorous withself-branching side shoots. The application of a chemical growthretardant may not be needed to restrict height for commercial pot plantproduction. I observed 3 unpinched plants in a pot with an overallheight of 51 cm and an overall width of 35 cm. The bract diameter ofindividual flowers was 20 cm.

Branching: Axillary branches will develop and terminate in a flowerwithout pinching. However, it is usually desirable to pinch `586` beforeflower induction and remove all terminal dominance. Then, all axillarybranches will develop uniformly and at a faster rate.

Growth rate: Rooting of stem cuttings occurs in 12-18 days underintermittent mist. The plant will flower in about nine weeks undercontinuous long night conditions and night temperatures of about 16°-18°C.

Foliage: The foliage is clean and uniformly dark green from bottom totop of the plant. The leaves are of medium size, leaf blades typicallybeing 8-9 cm long and 9-10 cm wide with leaf petioles 3 cm long.

Leaf shape.--Typical leaves are generally ovate with obtuse bases andacuminate tips. Leaf margins are lobed, generally with 2 indentations oneach side of the leaf blade. The midrib is convoluted or curled. Theunique appearance of the leaves may be described as puckered and archedas might be caused by pulling a drawstring inside the midrib.

Color.--Upper side -- Dark green, near RHS 147A-B. Under side --Green,between RHS 147B-C.

Retention.--The foliage lasts extremely well even under low lightintensities in the consumer's home.

Bracts: Generally there are 18-21 red bracts of various sizes subtendingthe cyanthia. The primary bracts have blades typically 11-12 cm long and9-10 cm wide with petioles 2 cm long. The bract surface is rugose withthe midrib convoluted or curled. Together, the convexity of the bractsmake a coarsely convoluted, spherical flower head.

Shape.--Primary bracts are ovate with acute to obtuse bases andacuminate tips. Primary bract margins are lobed, generally with 2indentations on either side of the bract. Secondary bracts are elliptic,of various sizes and have entire margins.

Color.--Upper side -- Red, near RHS 45B. Under side -- Near RHS 45D.

Flowers: Generally, 19-22 cyathia (flowers) are present when the plantis in full bloom. Each cyathium is about 7 mm long and 6 mm wide, greenin color, and fringed with red at the distal end. One yellow nectar cupprotrudes from the side of each cyathium and secretes nectar. The flowerpedicel is also green and about 5 mm in length. The stamens protrudingfrom the cyathia are red. The anthers are bifurcate; the pollen isyellow and copious. The stigmas are red and trifurcate.

Nectar exudate.--Abundant.

Seeds.--Self-incompatible.

Fertility.--Not observed.

Post production: The leaf, cyathium and bract retention is excellent andthe bracts do not fade or discolor.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Poinsettia cultivar,substantially as herein shown and described, distinguished by itsunusual bract formation and presentation, dark green foliage, andself-branching characteristics.